Fountain brush



Jan. 28, 1964 K. E. FLETCHER FOUNTAIN BRUSH Filed May 2, 1962 5 (ffm/7H E. Him/fe INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

United States The invention described herein relates to fountain brushes. More specifically the invention relates to a fountain brush having a portion in the handle thereof adapted to contain a liquid such as water, hair tonic, or

.the like and which is adapted to be dispensed during the hair brushing operation.

An object of the invention is a hair brush having a liquid reservoir in the body thereof and openings through which the liquid is dispensed during the hair brushing operation.

Another object of the invention is a hair brush having a liquid reservoir in the body portion thereof which is adapted to be automatically dispensed upon the application of pressure to the bristles by contact with a surface being brushed.

Another object of the invention is a hair brush having a liquid reservoir means in the body portion thereof and further including valve means operable by certain of the bristles to allow the dispensing of liquid from the reservoir in any desired quantity.

Another object of the invention is a hair brush having a liquid reservoir in the body portion thereof and Valve means to normally prevent a flow of liquid therefrom which are operable by bristle tufts affixed to the bottom of the body portion of the brush.

Other objects of the invention will become readily apparent by referring to the following detailed description when taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view illustrating the fountain brush of the present invention and showing the valve means positioned on the bottom thereof through which liquid contained in the body portion is dispensed.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional View of the fountain brush taken on lines 2-2 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the fountain brush with the bristles taken in section on lines 3-3 of FIGURE l to clearly illustrate the valve means fixed to the bottom of the body portion thereof.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged View of one of the valve means lixed to the bottom of the brush showing details of construction.

FIGURE 5 is a front view of one of the valves illustrating the manner in which the same is fixed to the bottom of the brush and showing the certain details of construction.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a closure means for the liquid reservoir in the body portion thereof taken on lines 6 6 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is shown the fountain brush 16 of the present invention which includes a body portion 12 having a top 14 and a bottom 16.

The top 14 of the body 12 is provided with a concavity 1S which defines a liquid reservoir. The concavity is closed by a plate member 20 which is fixed to the top 14 in sealing relation by any suitable means. The closure 20 is provided with a substantially centrally disposed opening-through which liquid may be poured into the concavity 18. The opening is normally closed by a removable plug 22, shown in detail in FIGURE 6, vented at 22.

The body 12 of brush 11i is provided with a plurality of passageways 24 as shown in dotted lines in FIGURES 2 and 5. The passageways extend through the body por- *arent tion from the bottom thereof into communication with the concavity 1S in which liquid is contained.

Valve means 26 is fixed to the bottom 16 of body 12. Each of the valve means 26 includes a generally cylindrical body 28 having an opening 3) in the side wall thereof. rfhe valve means 26 is fixed to the bottom 16 in such a manner that the opening 3) in the side wall of valve body 23 is in alignment with the passageways 24 in the body 12. Valve body 2S defines a valve chamber 32 interiorly thereof. Valve chamber 32 is in communication with the concavity 1? in the brush body 12 and contains liquid flowing from the liquid reservoir through passageways 24. One end of valve body 28 is closed by a plug 34, and the other end by a ball valve 36 biased against valve seat 3&5 by coil spring 4d having one end thereof in engagement with plug 34 and the other end in engagement with ball valve 36. The end portion 42 of valve body 28 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed generally V-shaped notches 44 and 46 which eX- tend inwardly and terminate adjacent the valve seat 3d. As shown in FGURE 4, ball valve 36 has a diametrical dimension whereby a portion thereof extends into the end 42 of valve body 28 having the notches 44 and 46.

The bottom 16 of brush liti is provided with a plurality of spaced bristle tufts T which are shown in substantially aligned rows though the same could be positioned in any desired pattern.

The vaive means 26 are positioned on the bottom 12 of the brush 1d in the manner shown in FGURE 3 whereby certain of the bristle tufts T are disposed so as to extend through notches 44 and 46.

ln use, the plug 22 is removed from closure plate 20 and the desired liquid placed' into the concavity 18. The plug is replaced to prevent leakage of liquid and the brush lil is then applied to and drawn through the hair of the user. As pressure is applied to the bristle tufts T, the same will, of course, curve in a direction opposite that to the direction in which the brush i@ is drawn. The bristle tufts which extend through notches 44 and 46 in the valve means 26 will, of course, be bent in the same manner as the remaining bristle tufts. When the abovementioned bristle tufts are bent, the position of them is such that they will engage the ball valve 36 and move the same from engagement with valve seat 3S against bias 0f spring dii whereby liquid from the concavity 18 passing through passageways 24 and contained in valve chamber 32 is released onto the bristies and then into the hair of the user. Depending on the manner in which the brush is drawn, the quantity of iiquid dispensed through valve means 26 can be readily regulated by the user whereby a desired quantity of liquid may be applied to the hair. 1t will be obvious that the more pressure applied, the farther ball valve 3e witl be moved from engagement with valve seat 3S, and conversely as less pressure is applied, the ball valve 36 will be moved a lesser distance from valve seat 3d. This will result in a large or relatively small quantity of liquid being dispensed.

While many variations and modifications may be made in the inventive concept above set forth, it is intended that this disclosure should be interpreted merely as illustrative and limited only by the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A fountain brush comprising a body portion including a top and bottom and having portions defining a liquid reservoir interioriy thereof, the bottom of said brush including portions defining passages therethrough in cornrnunication with said liquid reservoir, valve means t0 normally prevent a flow of liquid from said reservoir, said valve means each including a generally cylindrical body having a valve chamber interiorly thereof, portions of said valve body defining an opening therein in alignment with one of the passages in the bottom of said brush to place the valve chamber in communication with said liquid reservoir, a plug closing one end of said valve body and a valve seat adjacent the other end, a valve in said valve body, spring means to normally bias said valve into engagement with said valve seat, bristle tufts secured in the bottom of said brush, certain of said bristle tufts disposed adjacent said valve means and engageable with said valve therein when pressure is applied to said bristle tufts by contact with a surface, said valve movable away from the valve seat against the bias of said spring means in response to pressure of said certain bristle tufts to allow a ow of liquid from said reservoir therethrough, said valve body including portions dening oppositely disposed notches extending inwardly from the end of said valve body adjacent the valve seat, said notches ter- 4 minating adjacent said valve seat, said valve comprising a ball having a diametrical dimension whereby a portion thereof extends into the endi of said valve body having the notches therein and said certain bristle tufts extend through said notches adjacent said ball valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,486,847 Hokett Nov. 1, 1949 2,793,382 Fletcher May 28, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 235,330 Great Britain June 18, 1925 238,012 Germany Sept. 16, 1911 1,025,878 France Mar. 2, 1955 

